Thursday, January 10, 2008

I've seen many book lists the last few weeks, books people read last year, books people want to read this year so why not? I'll jump in too and give you some more to read. I had a hard time whittling this down to just thirteen (I sneaked in one more you'll notice) but these are authors that I've read at least two of their books and would instantly pick up another if given the chance.

1. Thomas Hardy 1840-1928. You'll quickly discover that I have a weakness for Brit lit, particularly from the 19th century (it was hard not including Dickens on the list but frankly, The Old Curiosity Shop knocked him out of the running and proved that even the masters have their down days). I've read Tess of the D'Urbervilles, Jude the Obscure, The Return of the Native, Far from the Madd'ing Crowd, The Mayor of Casterbridge and LOVED them all. Hardy's characters are tragic and desperate and doomed from page one but I'm riveted from beginning to tissue-sniffling end. But Tess holds a special place in my heart. Sniff.

2. Willa Cather 1873-1947. Okay I also have a weakness for late 19th-early 20th century American lit too. To me Willa Cather is the personification of "purple mountains, fruited plains, amber waves of grain" and "bring me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to be free." She writes with emotion and depth that makes her the greatest American writer of the 19th century. Take that Walt Whitman! My Antonia, O Pioneers! Song of the Lark, Lucy Gayheart, Death Comes for the Archbishop, A Lost Lady--read 'em and wept.

3. Lucy Maud Montgomery 1874-1942. I would have to also include E.B White 1899-1985 here as my favorite children's authors that aren't really for children. Not only have I read all of the Anne of Green Gables series (all eight) and her Emily of New Moon series (three) but I've read them several times over. As a twelve year-old I dreamed that I was Rilla Blythe in lovely daydreams where I had beautiful Edwardian dresses and lived on P.E. Island with my suitor going off to war . . . ah. But I digress. Montgomery's books are amazing and isn't she beautiful? But Charlotte's Web is the most well-written piece of literature disguised as a children's book in the English language. Every sentence is like a pearl necklace with each beautiful, precious word strung perfectly behind the next. It's art I tell you.

4. George Eliot 1819-1890. You'd think I'd finally broke away from the ladies if you didn't know that George Eliot is the pseudonym of Mary Ann Evans. Call me silly but I'm a woman and I like the way women write. What are you going to do? Silas Marner is a touching tiny book that is up there with A Christmas Carol when it comes to morality stories about change and the human heart, Adam Bede describes an honest, decent man who loves a woman but more than anything wants to do the right thing, The Mill on the Floss is a tragic tale with a brother, a sister and troubled family relations and Middlemarch's Dorothea Brooke is a model of virtuous, well-intentioned, misplaced goals that had me engrossed for the whole massive 500 pages. I still have yet to read Daniel Deronda but it's on the list.

5. Ayn Rand 1905-1982. Why stop now? Another woman writer that thrilled me is Alisa Rosenbaum, also known as Ayn Rand (Rand from her typewriter). I read The Fountainhead and it--let's see--"rocked my world" I believe is the phrase? It's an amazing novel about an architect (supposedly loosely based on Frank Lloyd Wright) and everyone said, "If you loved The Fountainhead wait until you read Atlas Shrugged." They were right. Atlas Shrugged is her masterpiece and even if you don't agree with her questionable politics the novel is still 1000 pages of "WOW!" I got Andrew to read this, he doesn't typically read fiction, and he too was amazed.

6. Victor Hugo 1802-1885. We're jumping continents and we're jumping genders here as I finally get back to the men on my list. But oh what a man! Is there anyone who can read Les Miserables without sobbing like a baby? Grace recently saw the movie and I think I've got her convinced, now I just have to get her to read the book--though I'll probably go with an abridged version, the 1000+ pages may turn her off. Here's a question: I've always wondered why his novel Notre Dame de Paris was translated as The Hunchback of Notre Dame--the novel isn't about Quasimodo anyway, the central character is the cathedral, as the French title would suggest. Any reason why this was done?

7. Alexandre Dumas (pere) 1802-1870. More with the French. I just love the romance of his historical works: The Count of Monte Cristo, The Three Musketeers and Queen Margot (about Marguerite de Valois, the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre and the reign of Charles IX). Fun fun fun. If you haven't read Queen Margot but have read the others you really should remedy the gap in your literary education because it's my favorite of the three--really!

8. Nevil Shute 1899-1960. A prolific British author whose most popular book On the Beach is a post-apocalyptic novel that is quite different from the rest of his works (at least as far as I'm familiar with them). I haven't read On the Beach but A Town Like Alice is wonderful. It's about a woman on a Malaysian death march who meets up with an Australian soldier--you must read it. Another one of my favorites is The Breaking Wave (also titled Requiem for a Wren) which I can't say much without giving it away but I loved it passionately.

9. Henry James 1843-1916. A 20th century expatriot American master that I read whenever I'm in the mood for something big and meaty. He's like the prime rib of American lit. A Portrait of a Lady is one of my all-time favorite novels but I also loved Washington Square and Daisy Miller. Of course The Turn of the Screw was fun and The Spoils of Poynton was fine though not great, if you've never read James don't start with his later works because they're terribly difficult (I have yet to get through Wings of the Dove though it's been on my shelf for years) so go with one of the earlier ones.

10. Samuel Shellabarger 1888-1954. An American novelist and academic who wrote the greatest historical fiction ever. Mostly swashbuckling stories of knights and pirates and the Spanish Inquisition (which no one ever expects, now do they?) that have me cheering and laughing and crying until Andrew wants to know what in the world is going on. Captain from Castille is on my top ten books list and I've read Lord Vanity, The King's Cavalier and The Prince of Foxes--all terrific and exciting reads. The only problem is that his books are largely out of print and hard to find. I usually comb the used book sites to find hardback copies to add to my collection.11. Raphael Sabatini 1875-1950. Handsome isn't he? Very much like Shellabarger and rivaling him in my affections but he was born in Italy to an English mother and an Italian father. He spoke many languages (six I think) and English was the last he acquired but he chose to write all of his novels in English because he said "all the best stories are written in English." Not very P.C. but hard to argue with--especially considering that he's added such wonderful works to that very body work. Some say he writes like Dumas but was more prolific. I've read Scaramouche, Captain Blood, The Sea Hawk, Bellarion, Master-at-Arms and The Tavern Knight, all fabulous. I want to read the rest as I can find them.12. Edith Wharton 1862-1937. An New York aristocrat who never found much happiness in personal relationships but wrote some of the greatest books of all time drawn from that sadness. Again with the early 20th century Americans! Her stories are sad but I love them and I keep coming back for more. I've read The Buccaneers, Summer, Ethan Fromme, The Age of Innocence, The House of Mirth and I'm reading Old New York right now. I give her five stars every time.

13. Wallace Stegner 1909-1993. How can I describe this greatest of all novelists so that you'll not sleep until you have one of his books in your hand? His sentences are exquisite, his themes are the deepest and most profound. He was raised in Utah and Saskatchewan (where some of his works are based) and he founded the creative writing program at Stanford, where he taught for many years and which is the basis for most of the creative writing programs now throughout the United States. Angle of Repose won the Pulitzer in 1971 and was supposedly loosely based on the history of his grandparents and describes their rocky marriage as they moved throughout the American west. It juxtaposes the turbulence of the 1970s with the hardships of pioneering and draws some troubling conclusions but of all things I would describe it as a moral book that is inspiring in a way that modern fiction seldom is. Crossing to Safety is a shorter novel (I'd start there if you were to sample his works) about two married couples and their entwined lives. The Big Rock Candy Mountain is an autobiographical work that could be compared to The Grapes of Wrath, though not so depressing, and is my least favorite of his books. The Spectator Bird is about an American man recovering from the death of his only son while searching for his roots in Denmark only to uncover troubling family secrets--it has the feel of a who-dunnit but it much deeper and poignant. Amazing, amazing, amazing. What would I give to be able to write like this man?

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Have you entered the Write-Away Contest yet this month? The topic is "The Great Escape." Don't miss this one!

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comments:

Wow. I am literarily challenged. I generally read children's fiction and sci fi/fantasy if its clean. I think I need to broaden my horizons. Sadly, our town library is very VERY small. I will have to see if they have any actual literature there.

I loved the Anne of Green Gables books so as a child. In fact, I rescued them from my parents' basement when they moved and they're (the books, not my parents) still sitting on my bookshelf in the hopes that they will someday not smell too musty to reread.

Oh I have to comment on this one! I agree with many of your choices (Hardy, LMM, G Eliot, Hugo, Dumas, James, Wharton, Stegner) and haven't read others. Since we agree on so much, I am thrilled to learn of new authors that I'll prob love! THANKS for a great list.

i love love love l.m. montgomery. have you read jane of lantern hill? that is one of my favorites of hers. and also the story girl. i could read the anne books every year. my copies are so well-worn! great list.

I was quietly reading you in my Google reader but when I saw Samuel Shellabarger and L.M. Montgomery in the same list, I had to comment. I love Prince of Foxes! It's one of the books I consistently re-read. As for Montgomery: I have he eight plus the two (I only have two of the New Moon books!) and I have all the little short stories she wrote! When Marilla reaches reading age, she'll be surrounded by Anne! (Yes, our first girl child is scheduled to be named Marilla...)

I have never met anyone who appreciates Stegner as much as I do, thanks for introducing him to your readers. "The Angle of Repose" has long been my favorite book. I have bought it at least four times, having lent out my copy then not remembering to whom and then having to run out and buy it again. There is something so comforting about Stegner's work. I also enjoy his non fiction and would recommend you come to know John Wesley Powell through the pages of Stegner's "Beyond the Hundreth Meridian".

This is the first book list I've seen that has me chomping at the bit to get to a library. I'm a classics addict and i can't believe that there are so many books on this list that I haven't read (some I've never even heard of). And I especially appreciate the highlights of each author, as I tend to skip the authors name when reading. You've persuaded me to finish the Deerslayer by Saturday so that I can allow myself to read some of these.

Great list, especially L.M. Montgomery (Anne of Green Gables will always hold a special place in my heart) and Ayn Rand (Atlas Shrugged is a great piece of fiction). I might add C.S. Lewis and Sheldon Vanauken to the list...and perhaps Charles Dickens and Jane Austen.

I only know two of the fourteen. I didn't take E. Lit.or pay attention much in A. Lit. I remember reading those books and the content, but the teacher was not really that good. I only know Hugo and E.B. White from your list.

Oh, wow. Great list. I love all the authors I've read...and I have 3 new ones to add to my list (Shute, Shellabarger, Sabatini...all 's' names. That's curious.)

Silas Marner is one of my favorite books ever. I'll never forget the day my grandmother quoted it to me, and I recognized it.

Are you kidding milehimama? My sister and I did a personal casting of Atlas Shrugged once, and Brad Pitt was one of the first we picked. Although, we decided he should be the Danish pirate, since John Galt wouldn't be as effective unless he were an unknown actor. But then...most people seeing the movie probably already know. So...

Thea, I'm going to answer your challenge on modern lit but point out Stegner is "modern." The problem is, so many popular books (and I love Grisham and Dan Brown) are more screenplays than literature and the ones that masquerade as literature are trying so hard to be artsy and esoteric that they're rubbish (love that word. Makes me sound like Julie Andrews).

I can't believe that about Pitt/Jolie in Atlas Shrugged--I'm remembering the Beowulf fiasco I guess. Though I loved A River Runs Through It and remember somewhere that years ago Brad could act in great stuff.

If you love Monte Cristo, try The Sea Hawk by Sabatini--it's a similar revenge tale only better. Really!

And Becca, that's perfect--I love Rilla as a nickname and she'll get compliments on it everywhere I'd bet.

Darla--I love Dagny! Any sons named John Galt?

Mean mommy--did you see the Steve Martin movie Simple Twist of Fate based on Silas Marner? I didn't like it because it changed all the themes. I just didn't like the whole idea that if you have enough money everything is okay. The book is better.

Mmmmm. Writers. I've only read My Antonia bu Cather, but I liked that. I loved Daisy Miller, but I thought Turn of the Screw was so silly (and not scary) that I haven't gone back to James.

And I LOVE LOVE LOVE Edith Wharton. I finally got the book I've been asking for (for years) at Christmas: The Writing of Fiction by Edith Wharton. I read an excerpt in college and now I just have to know everything else. (All I had to do to get it was to make it the only thing on my Christmas list!)

And though I do love Edith Wharton, I must say that I didn't like "Summer." Maybe I should've just stuck to the basic morality stories anyway ;) . (I did like Old New York, especially The Old Maid, which was made into a movie in 1939 with Bette Davis, though they changed the setting.)

Ahhhh....what a blissfully full list. You're a woman after my own heart (mind?). I almost hesitate to add more, but since you've read all these, I have a few more to suggest that you'll probably also love, Scribbit. Try Elizabeth Gaskell (especially Wives and Daughters, 1860) or Margaret Oliphant--Miss Marjoribanks, 1868?, and Hester, late 1870s, are both spectacular -- witty and intelligent commentaries on the cultural positions of Victorian women. And if you want something more recent that appeals to a sensibility that loves fabulously rich Victorian prose, you must read My Name Is Red (by Orhan Pamuk, who won the Nobel Prize in literature two years ago). It's a gorgeously layered story about a group of artists who work illuminating manuscripts in 14th century Turkey. Part murder mystery, part love story, part history lesson, all incredible prose. I can't wait to tackle some of your recommendations!

I love Tess. She holds a special place in my heart. Most of the authors I have read and am glad there is someone else out there that loves them as much as I do.

I decided one day that I was going to start reading the classics because I had never been exposed to them before (except school and the rebellion in me hated being told what to read). I quickly discovered I like to think and read great literature. When I don't want to think I turn to chick lit (which I love) or something else.

I've read some of these, but not many...which makes me wonder about the quality and depth of education (or, obviously, lack thereof) I received at a certain Big 10 university which bestowed upon me a B.A. in English Lit.

I don't know many people who talk about Ayn Rand. I read Atlas Shrugged as a young adult. Details are fuzzy, though I remember when she shows up at the intellectuals' utopian spot with all those curiously solved construction problems. Using their own ingenuity, they figured stuff out and made it work. For some reason, I remember that more clearly than the plot or characters.

I'm frustrated at my inability to pull anything out of my memory banks. I need to go back to Mortimer Adler/Charles Doren's _How to Read a Book__ and remind myself how to "own" a book (practicing active reading skills utilizing such tools as margin notes, summaries, note-taking and the like). Perhaps then I could recall some of this great material!

I'm currently reading the first Anne of Green Gables book after watching the movies over and over. I had read some of the later books but not the first two. I am really enjoying the book! I'm hoping my niece will want to read them someday too.

Thanks for a well thought out list of favorite authors. Our blogs both appear as links on a www.wsj.com page (Wall St. Journal website). I've been reading for almost 50 years and haven't found a better novel than Les Mis--even the 1000-page version. I enjoyed Hardy in high school, but not enough to read any more as an adult. Among more modern authors, I like Mark Helprin, John Irving, Isabel Allende and Michael Chabon. Check out my blog at http://dadlak.blogspot.com.

What about Kate Chopin? i read her in college and am rereading her. I think I'll appreciate it more now that I have some life experience behind me.Loved your list. Was an English Major and haven't read as many classics as you have!I've gravitated toward the less heavy stuff since having kids.

I am so pleased that I've read most of the books on your list. Granted, some of it was becasue I was forced to in grad school (Hardy), but most I read on my own. I still have all my Anne books, and EB White, and I read Les miserables in the original French (also because I was forced to), but then read it in English and loved it. I have not read Stegner but will do so at the first opportunity. Thanks for making this list! I do love Kate Chopin too, and I really do want a "Who Is John Galt?" bumper sticker to go with my "not all who wander are lost" bumper sticker.